No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
"The Butterflies of Greece" anno 2021: new evidence or business as usual? Phegea 49-3: 129-133
Abstract and Figures
A review of the new version (2021) of "The Butterflies of Greece" by Lazaros Pamperis is presented. A comparison is made with the previous versions (2009 & 2018). Is this a new landmark making the new information a source of additional and more reliable data for Greece? The increased number of records (60%) and geographical coverage (30%) is important. It is regrettable that the reliability of the data remains unsatisfactory.
Figures - uploaded by Sylvain Cuvelier
Author content
All figure content in this area was uploaded by Sylvain Cuvelier
Content may be subject to copyright.
The recent publication of the intraspecific genetic variation for Western Palearctic butterflies is a milestone for the identification and protection of hidden diversity. This research includes 87 taxa from Albania, some of which being highlighted in this article that also discusses the recent discovery of a hitherto unknown Albanian population in the cryptic group of the anomalous blues (Agrodiaetus). The Mirdita ophiolite belt in the inner Albanides is often involved in these putative evolutionary significant units. More research is needed to better document their taxonomic level without losing time for conservation efforts.
Résumé La publication récente sur la variation génétique intraspécifique des papillons de la région Paléarctique occidentale est une étape importante pour l'identification et la protection de la diversité cryptique. Cette étude comprend 87 taxons d'Albanie, dont certains sont mis en évidence dans cet article qui traite également de la découverte récente d'une population albanaise jusque-là inconnue dans le groupe cryptique des Agrodiaetus bruns. La zone d'ophiolites de Mirdita dans les Albanides internes est souvent impliquée dans ces unités significatives évolutives potentielles. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour mieux documenter leur niveau taxinomique mais sans négliger les préoccu-pations de conservation.
Cryptic species represent a challenge for documenting global biodiversity. Even in well-studied groups, such as European butterflies, the application of integrative approaches has allowed the recognition of an unexpected number of cryptic taxa. Here, we combine the analysis of mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase I, COI) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer 2, ITS2) markers with geometric morphometrics of the male genitalia to study diversity within the butterfly Muschampia proto. The nuclear marker reveals three well-supported and deeply diverged lineages, which are also detected based on mitochondrial DNA, although the latter recovers one of them as paraphyletic with poor support. These lineages also present distinct male genital characters, which allow blind assignment of > 97% of specimens when applying a jackknife procedure. We conclude that M. proto comprises three cryptic species that started to differentiate ~2 Mya: M. proto, distributed in northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France; Muschampia alta comb. & stat. nov., occurring in southern Italy and the Balkan Peninsula; and Muschampia proteides, present in the easternmost part of Europe, the Near East and Iran. This discovery adds two new species to the European butterfly fauna and highlights the necessity to continue investigating potential cryptic diversity.
Red Lists are very valuable tools in nature conservation at global, continental and (sub-) national scales. In an attempt to prioritise conservation actions for European butterflies, we compiled a database with species lists and Red Lists of all European countries, including the Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands). In total, we compiled national species lists for 42 countries and national Red Lists for 34 of these. The most species-rich countries in Europe are Italy, Russia and France with more than 250 species each. Endemic species are mainly found on the Macaronesian archipelagos and on the Mediterranean islands. By attributing numerical values proportionate to the threat statuses in the different national Red List categories, we calculated a mean Red List value for every country (cRLV) and a weighted Red List value for every species (wsRLV) using the square root of the country’s area as a weighting factor. Countries with the highest cRLV were industrialised (NW) European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Denmark, whereas large Mediterranean countries such as Spain and Italy had the lowest cRLV. Species for which a Red List assessment was available in at least two European countries and with a relatively high wsRLV (≥ 50) are Colias myrmidone, Pseudochazara orestes, Tomares nogelii, Colias chrysotheme and Coenonympha oedippus. We compared these wsRLVs with the species statuses on the European Red List to identify possible mismatches. We discuss how this complementary method can help to prioritise butterfly conservation on the continental and/or the (sub-)national scale.
The Balkan Peninsula represents one of the hottest biodiversity spots in Europe. However, the invertebrate fauna of this region is still insufficiently investigated, even in respect of such well-studied organisms as Lepidoptera. Here we use a combination of chromosomal, molecular and morphological markers to rearrange the group of so-called anomalous blue butterflies (also known as ‘brown complex’ of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822] and as the Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) admetus (Esper, 1783) species group) and to reveal its cryptic taxonomic structure. We demonstrate that P. aroaniensis (Brown, 1976) is not as widespread in the Balkans as was previously thought. In fact, it has a dot-like distribution range restricted to the Peloponnese Peninsula in South Greece. Polyommatus orphicus Kolev, 2005 is not as closely related to the Turkish species P. dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov & Wiemers, 2003) as was supposed earlier. Instead, it is a Balkan endemic represented by two subspecies: P. orphicus orphicus (Bulgaria) and P. orphicus eleniae Coutsis & De Prins, 2005 (Northern Greece). Polyommatus ripartii (Freyer, 1830) is represented in the Balkans by an endemic subspecies P. ripartii pelopi. The traditionally recognized P. admetus (Esper, 1783) is shown to be a heterogeneous complex and is divided into Polyommatus admetus sensu stricto (the Balkans and west Turkey) and P. yeranyani (Dantchenko & Lukhtanov, 2005) (east Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran). Polyommatus nephohiptamenos (Brown & Coutsis, 1978) is confirmed to be a species with a dot-like distribution range in Northern Greece. Finally, from Central Greece (Timfristos and Parnassos mountains) we describe Polyommatus timfristos Lukhtanov, Vishnevskaya & Shapoval, sp. n. which differs by its haploid chromosome number (n=38) from the closely related and morphologically similar P. aroaniensis (n=47-48) and P. orphicus (n=41-42). We provide chromosomal evidence for three separate south Balkan Pleistocene refugia (Peloponnesse, Central Greece and Northern Greece/South Bulgaria) and stress the biogeographic importance of Central Greece as a place of diversification. Then we argue that the data obtained have direct implications for butterfly karyology, taxonomy, biogeography and conservation.
The Palaearctic Grayling genus Pseudochazara encompasses a number of petrophilous butterfly species, most of which are local endemics especially in their centre of radiation in SW Asia and the Balkans. Due to a lack of consistent morphological characters, coupled with habitat induced variability, their taxonomy is poorly understood and species delimitation is hampered. We employed a DNA barcoding approach to address the question of separate species status for several European taxa and provide first insight into the phylogeny of the genus. Unexpectedly we found conflicting patterns with deep divergences between presumably conspecific taxa and lack of divergence among well-defined species. We propose separate species status for P. tisiphone, P. amalthea, P. amymone, and P. kermana all of which have separate well supported clades, with the majority of them becoming local endemics. Lack of resolution in the 'Mamurra' species group with well-defined species (in terms of wing pattern and coloration) such as P. geyeri, P. daghestana and P. alpina should be further explored using nuclear molecular markers with higher genetic resolution.
Until recently very little was known about the biology and ecology of Brown’s Grayling (Pseudochazara amymone (Brown, 1976)). In order to shed more light on this elusive species we present a manuscript on the habitat requirements of P. amymone along with a detailed description of its preimaginal stages, and also provide help ful information regarding the conservation of this species. The larvae are oligophagous, feeding on Festuca ovina L. and Dactylis glomerata L. in captivity. Adults are extremely stenoecious requiring steep, sparsely vegetated slopes, almost exclusively associated with dark brown/blue green serpentine rocks against which they are perfectly camouflaged when resting with closed wings. The species appears only in low densities and has been observed mud-puddling and occasionally nectaring on flowers. Most of its habitat is inaccessible, but large scale inundation of the Devoll Gorge pose a serious threat to this scarce south Balkan endemic. Further studies are required to help fill the gaps in its distribution and evaluate its conservation status.
For the first time a comparison of variable external characters of a series of males and females of Pseudochazara amymone (Brown, 1976) from southern Albania is conducted. Pseudochazara amymone, flying together with P. mniszechii tisiphone (Brown, 1980), was local and quite common in steep valleys on ophiolite substrate on two separate mountains, one of which is a recently discovered locality by Eckweiler (2012), while the other one is a new locality. An analysis of external characters of all specimens from the two localities suggests no statistically significant differences. In the field, patrolling P. amymone males are easily distinguished from P. mniszechii tisiphone males but this is not the case for females, and therefore we provide determination keys for males and females of these two species. These are based on a statistical analysis of a specimen series from one Albanian P. mniszechii tisiphone population compared with all P. amymone in this study. Photographs of androconia, copula and some extreme forms of P. amymone are presented. To encourage further research in this poorly explored country a map is included, showing all historical records of Papilionoidea from literature, including our own observations.
A review of the genus Pseudochazara de Lesse
- J Brown
Brown J. 1976. A review of the genus Pseudochazara de Lesse, 1951 (Lep. Satyridae) in Greece. -Entomologist's Gazette 27: 85-90.
- J Coutsis
- J De Prins
Coutsis J. & De Prins J. 2005. A new brown Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) from northern Greece (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). -Phegea
33(4): 129-137.
The true identity of butterflies originally recorded as Hipparchia (Parahipparchia) pellucida (Stauder, 1923) from the Eastern Aegean Greek islands of Lézvos and Ikaría
- J Coutsis
- G Bozano
Coutsis J. & Bozano G. 2018. The true identity of butterflies originally recorded as Hipparchia (Parahipparchia) pellucida (Stauder,
1923) from the Eastern Aegean Greek islands of Lézvos and Ikaría (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). -Phegea 46(3): 106-109.
New discoveries of Pseudochazara mamurra amymone Brown, 1976 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). -Nachrichten des
- W Eckweiler
Eckweiler W. 2012. New discoveries of Pseudochazara mamurra amymone Brown, 1976 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). -Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo 33(1): 1-4.
Resultats des recherches des papillons diurnes (Rhopalocera, Grypocera) de notre pays
- K Misja
- A Kurrizi
Misja K. & Kurrizi A. 1984. Resultats des recherches des papillons diurnes (Rhopalocera, Grypocera) de notre pays. -Buletini I
Shkencavetë Natyrës 12: 105-111.
New distributional data of Polyommatus timfristos (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Greece
- M Mølgaard
Mølgaard M. 2020. New distributional data of Polyommatus timfristos (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Greece. -Phegea 48(2): 41-43.
The Butterflies of Greece. Second Edition revised and enlarged
- L Pamperis
Pamperis L. 2009. The Butterflies of Greece. Second Edition revised and enlarged. -Editions Pamperis, Athens, 766 pp.
Pamperis L. 2016.
www.pamperis.gr/THE_BUTTERFLIES_OF_GREECE/Epharmoges_kai_Leptomereies_Applications_and_Details.html [consulted
on 20.i.2021].
- M Wiemers
- E Balletto
- V Dincă
- Z F Fric
- G Lamas
- V Lukhtanov
- M L Munguira
- C A M Van Swaay
- R Vila
- A Vliegenthart
- N Wahlberg
- R Verovnik
Wiemers M., Balletto E., Dincă V., Fric Z. F., Lamas G., Lukhtanov V., Munguira M. L., van Swaay C. A. M., Vila R., Vliegenthart A.,
Wahlberg N., Verovnik R. 2018. An updated checklist of the European Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea). -ZooKeys 811:
9-45.
_______________________________________________________________